The
Facts on Astrology, the Dangers and Source
What Is the
Astrology
Definition:
Astrology is a practice based on the assumption that the stars and planets
mysteriously influence the lives of men. It teaches that the influence of the
heavens begins at birth and continues throughout a person's life.
In other words, "the art of judging the occult influences of the stars
upon human affairs".
The Zodiac
This is an imaginary belt of sky containing the 12 astrological signs or
constelations around which the ancients built imaginary human and animal
figures. The Zodiac and the constellations are both imaginary geometric
configurations.
The signs are known as the "Sun Signs". Everyone is born under one
of these 12 signs or constellations. (Pises the fish, Leo the Lion, Taurus the
bull)
The houses are the 12 sections of the Zodiac which together symbolize every
aspect of life.
The Horoscope
This is a "map" of the heavens at the moment of the birth of a
person or any specific time therafter. The world of astrology is based upon an
ancientview of the universe, not a scientific one. It was based on what they
percieved was happening in the heavens, the sun, moon and stars were moving
around the earth, the "centre of life".
We know now scienfificaly this is not the case.
Astrology
and the Occult - Is astrology related to the occult?
We may define the occult, in general, as the attempt to secure supernatural
power or knowledge. The Christian believes that this occult knowledge and
power come from spirit beings that the Bible calls demons. Astrology is
related to the occult in four major ways. First, astrology itself is defined
by Webster's Dictionary as an occult art. As such it employs occult practices
such as divination. Divination may be defined as "the art of obtaining
secret or illegitimate knowledge of the future by methods unsanctioned by and
at variance with the holiness of God" and which involves contact with
evil Spirits. Secondly, astrology appears to work best when the astrologer
himself is psychically sensitive, what most astrologers would term
"intuitive." Thirdly, prolonged use of astrology often leads to the
development of psychic abilities. Fourthly, due to its history and very
nature, astrology often becomes the introductory course to a wider spectrum of
occult practices. All of this points to the fact that the very practice of
astrology is a foundational occult art and that the practitioners
(astrologers) open themselves up to becoming involved in other occult
practices.
Nevertheless
modern astrology wishes to be seen as scientific. As a result, we are told
that as a system of belief, it has nothing whatever to do with the occult and
that the astrologer himself need not be psychic at all, although he may be
"intuitive." An example of this is leading astrologer Carroll
Righter who "feels strongly that astrology should not be considered [part
of] the Occult. Because of his Practice as an astrologer, "he regards
himself as a scientist Another influential astrologer, Charles E. O. Carter,
claims "astrology does not involve any form of psychism, thus showing his
aversion to the occult. Practicing astrologer Colette Michaan states
"astrology is magical only in the sense that insight is magical.
These quotes
remind us of the pronouncements of the parapsychologists who similarly claim
that when they study psychics and mediums they are only studying
"natural" and "normal" human powers-nothing occult,
supernatural or spiritistic. But such claims are false whether made by
parapsychologists or astrologers. Author John Weldon has shown that
parapsychologists unwittingly have opened themselves to demonic powers under
the guise of latent human abilities. If astrologers wish to truly be seen as
scientific, it is natural to expect they would not admit to the occult nature
of their craft. But instead we could expect them, like parapsychologists, to
define their craft in modem scientific and psychological terms. But have
astrologers misstated the case? Can it be documented that astrology by nature
is part of the occult? Finally, is there a connection between the astrologer
and psychic abilities?
From its
inception, astrology has been tied to the world of paganism, magic, spiritism,
and the occult and this remains true today. For example, in examining two
dozen "channeled" books (revelations given by a spirit possessing
someone's body), astrology was accepted or endorsed in almost all of them.
Proof that the
spirits (demons) are clearly interested in promoting astrology can be seen in
the following two examples.
First, one of the
spirits who communicated through mystic and occultist Alice Bailey (founder of
Lucius Trust) telepathically transmitted many books to her, including Esoteric
Astrology. A second example is Edgar Cayce, who was a powerful medium.
Throughout most of his life the spirits speaking through him endorsed the
practice of astrology. The 14,000 readings Cayce gave in trance are considered
the largest single body of psychic information in the world. Over 2,500 of
them dealt with what were termed "life readings" and "almost
all [of them] refer to past incarnations and specific astrological or
planetary influences bearing on the present. When asked if it was right and
proper to study astrology, the spirits that spoke through Cayce said
"very very very much so.
The spirits are
not the only occult connection to astrology. In terms of occult realities,
astrology and the occult go hand in hand because they are fundamentally
inseparable. There are historic ties between the rise of astrology on the one
hand and the corresponding turning to the occult on the other. It is also true
that where there has been the rise of the occult there has also been a
corresponding turning to astrology. For example, Helena P Blavatsky was a
potent medium and virulent antagonist of Christianity. She founded one of the
most influential occultic movements in modem Westem culture, known as the
Theosophical Society Astrologers West and Toonder have pointed out the
influence of Theosophy on the modem American revival of astrology: "It is
to Ms. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Movement she founded that astrology owes
its revival.... Theosophy, in one blow ... inspired a renewed and serious
inquiry into
How influeniial
is astrology today?
Astrologers
West andibonder believe that astrology now "enjoys
a popularity uranatched since the decline of Rome." Science writer and
engineer Lawrence E. Jerome makes the astonishing claim that at least one
billion people around the globe "believe in and follow astrology to some
extent." Bernard Gittelson is a New Age human behavior researcher and
former public relations consultant representing the West German government,
the European Common Market, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and other major
clients. He calculated that the circulation of newspapers and magazines
carrying astrological columns in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and South America
totaled over 700 million or threefourths of a billion.
In the United
States, the interest in astrology has fluctuated but remained high. For
example, in 1969 Newsweek estimated there were 10 million committed believers
in astrology and many more dabblers. In 1975 a Gallup poll indicated over 32
million Americans believed "that the stars influence people's lives"
and in addition that many of them consulted their daily or weekly horoscopes.
Not only that, but estimates of the number of astrologers ranged as high as
10,000 full-time and 175,000 part-time. Ten years later, a Gallup poll in 1984
revealed that among teenagers (aged 13-18), 55% believed in astrology. This
figure was up from 40% in 1978. A 1988 Gallup poll indicate IO% of
evangelicals believe in astrology.
Astrologers
claim "there is no area of human experience to which astrology cannot be
applied." Many occult practice' s (numerology and Tarot cards) have
logical connections to astrology; many world religions and religious cults
(Hinduism and Theosophy)
Proof for the
astrologer's claim that there is no area of human experience to which
astrology cannot be applied can be seen by checking your local bookstore.
For example, the smallest sampling of astrology titles indicates its potential
for wide applications:
Your Dog's Astrological
Horoscope; Your Baby's First Horoscope; Astro-power at the Racetrack; The
Teenager's Horoscope Book; Cat Horoscope Book; Pluto: Planet of Magic and
Power, Chinese Astrology; Cooking With Astrology; Diet and Health Horoscope;
Earthquake Prediction; Medical Astrology; The Astrologer's Guide to
Counseling; Horoscope of Murder; Find Your Mate Through Astrology; Astrology
and Biochemistry; Astrological Themes For Meditation; Sex Signs; An
Introduction to Political Astrology; Astro Numerology; Stock Market
Predictions; Homosexuality in the Horoscope; The Astrology ofI Ching; Sex and
the Outer Planets; Astrology of Theosophy; Astrology in the Bible, Horoscope
of Canada; A Guide to Cabalistic Astrology, etc.
That astrology
often does depend upon psychic ability is recognized both by occult
authorities and astrologers themselves. The astrologer Marcus Allen has
written Astrology For the New Age: An Intuitive Approach. In this book he
thanks 'my spirit guide for his insight and clarity'.
What do
astrologers think about God?
If an
astrologer claims to be a Christian, attends church and reads his Bible, and
claims that his practice of astrology is Compatible with his Christian belief,
would you believe him? Is there any conflict between Christian belief and
Astrology? What would you say to Christian laymen who think there is nothing
wrong with checking their horoscope each day?
In reading and asking practicing astrologers to put their beliefs about God in
brief form, most would say something like this: For them, the idea of
pantheism (all is God; God is all) defines their belief in God. Others say
they are not opposed to belief in God, in whatever shape or form a person
wishes to believe. What is clear is that almost 100% of the astrologers do not
arrive at their views of God from reading the facts of the Bible.
The astrologer
who has formed his view of God from data other
than the Bible has a different God than the biblical God. He is more in
agreement with the common view that teaches "the Fatherhood of God and
the Brotherhood of man.' Whether you are an atheist, Hindu, Buddhist, or
Moslem or hold to almost any view of God at all does not bother them. As long
as anyone allows astrology, they do not care what they believe about God. This
is the view of God they accept. However, astrologers are opposed to believing
in a God who defines certain actions and deeds as being wrong-as sinful-and
obviously astrologers are opposed to someone who believes in a God who
condemns the practice of astrology. And finally, like the majority of people
in the world, they do not accept the views of our Lord Jesus Christ who said,
"no man can come to God but by Me" (Jn.3:16; 5:24; 6:47)
Many astrologers
define God in such a way that their belief easily blends within an occult view
of the world. For example, for the majority, God is seen existing as a divine
power and in some sense all life and all Nature are seen as being God. This is
why witch-astrologer Sybil Leek writes, "God is in everyone,"
including Nature.
Comparison
between Christianity and Astrology
| Topic |
Astrology |
Christianity |
| God |
Impersonal-nature |
Personal-triune |
| Jesus |
Astrologer,
psychic |
Saviour
and God |
| Salvation |
Means
through self-perfection |
By
grace through faith |
| Death |
Reincarnation |
Glorification |
| The
final state |
Cosmic
absorption |
Personal
immortality |
| Source
of authority |
Astrological
practice |
Bible |
| Mediator |
Professional
astrologer |
Jesus
Christ |
| Sin |
Ignorance
or karma |
Disobedience
to God |
| Morality |
Relative, |
Absolute |
| Man |
One
with the cosmos |
Created
(God's image) |
| Relation
to occult |
Accepts |
Rejects |
| Source
of information |
Horoscope
chart |
Bible |
| Object
of consultation |
The
star's influence |
God |
| Object
of faith |
Self |
Christ |
| Object
of worship |
Creation |
Creator |
| Revealer
of reality |
Chart |
Holy
Spirit/Bible |
| Accountability |
Stars |
God |
